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Nightlife

Whether you’re in the mood for rooftop bars, late-night snacking or prowling the red light district, here’s where you can get some nighttime action in Bangkok.

You’ve visited the temples, shopped till you dropped in the malls and markets, eaten your fill of street food, and toured museums and art galleries aplenty. But what to do in the City of Angels after the sun has set? Here are 13 of the best places for fun nightlife in Bangkok.

1. Khao San Road

Image credit: Justin Vidamo

Khao San Road is one of Bangkok’s most popular nightlife areas for backpackers. There are bars with pumping tunes, live music, and a nightclub, along with several places to eat, street stalls selling cheap clothing and kitsch souvenirs, and massage shops. Want a tattoo? It’s not advisable, but you can have that done here too. Pad Thai vendors, kebab stalls, and sellers with grilled bugs set up along the street next to people selling DIY cocktail buckets. Street performers are a common sight and the road takes on a carnival-like air after dark.

2. Rambuttri Village

Rambuttri Village is found close to the infamous Khao San Road, offering a slightly watered down experience and a more grown-up vibe. Bars play a range of music, including European and American hits, and live bands belt out renditions of popular songs. Whether you’re after an ice-cold beer, a glass of Thai whisky with soda, imported spirits, or brightly coloured cocktails, the bars aim to please everyone. There’s a good selection of places to eat and you’ll still find souvenir sellers and clothes stands, massage shops, and budget accommodations.

3. RCA

One of Bangkok’s designated nightlife zones, RCA (Royal City Avenue) is the place to be for night-clubbing enthusiasts. Attracting a mixture of Thai high society, expats, and tourists, everyone joins together on the dance floor to shimmy and shake to the hottest tunes. Many clubs have fairly strict dress codes—you’ll need to get your glad rags out and dress to impress. Expect swanky drinks, booming sound systems, and awesome lasers and lights. Places here typically stay open late.

4. Patpong

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Patpong was one of Bangkok’s original red light districts, and there’s still plenty of adult entertainment to be found here. There are ping pong shows, go-go bars, coyote dancers, and beer bars mixed in with more laid-back establishments where you can grab a seat next to the pavement and watch the activity on the streets. Patpong also draws people seeking a different kind of evening entertainment; the large night market is something of a magnet for shopaholics, selling clothes, accessories, souvenirs, and more.

5. Soi Cowboy

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Soi Cowboy is another of Bangkok’s red light districts. Despite being a place that’s known for adult entertainment, it can be a great night out for people who aren’t looking for some nighttime exercise as well. There are quieter bars where you can chill outside and watch the world go by, or you can throw yourself right into the frenetic action and watch as ladies work the pole and fish for punters.

6. Nana Plaza

Nana Plaza is the grittiest of Bangkok’s red light districts. Most patrons are looking for something more than a drink and don’t plan on leaving alone. The music is loud, the lights are bright, and there are lots of eye-popping outfits. If adult nightlife is what you’re looking for, Nana Plaza could be the place for you.

7. Thonglor

Thonglor offers a classier vibe than Bangkok’s red light districts and budget drinking areas, with fancy wine bars, chic cocktail bars, and dress codes to make sure everyone’s looking smart. There are plenty of swanky restaurants that serve a huge selection of global cuisine. If dancing is more your thing, the area boasts a number of classy clubs—you’ll find the busiest and the best nightclubs near Soi 10. While previously the playground of affluent Thais, more and more foreign visitors are catching onto the appeal of Thonglor. It’s one of Bangkok’s most stylish, sophisticated, and trendy areas for an evening out on the tiles.

8. Ekkamai

Close to Thonglor, Ekkamai is quickly becoming known as one of Bangkok’s hipster hangouts. While the night scene here is fairly low key, if you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy alternative music, sip an array of craft beers, find great vegan food, and mingle with like-minded souls, Ekkamai’s a great place for a night out.

9. Asiatique

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Located on the riverside, Asiatique is a cool place for evening fun. It’s home to a large open-air entertainment complex, mall, and market that only open at 5pm each day. The Ferris wheel can be seen from far and wide and a ride offers the chance to admire Bangkok’s bright lights from above. There are many places to eat, drink and shop, so foodies and shopaholics will be pleased with the options. Stores and stalls tend to focus on higher-end brands and designer products. You’ll find everything from fashion and literature to electronics and souvenirs. Asiatique also hosts a fabulous ladyboy cabaret show, Calypso Cabaret, and for something even less common, you can watch a traditional Thai puppet show at the Joe Louis Theatre.

10. Sky Bar at Lebua

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One of Bangkok’s most famous rooftop bars, Sky Bar at Lebua leapt to fame after its role in the cult movie “The Hangover II”. The highest open-air bar in the world, it offers nothing short of pure opulence… with price tags to match! While it may not be a place where you would want to spend an entire evening, or visit regularly, it’s a top place to enjoy a few drinks to experience the atmosphere and views and to get the bragging rights! For a romantic meal, you can book a table at Sirocco too.

11. Other Sky Bars

Bangkok has no shortage of stylish sky bars where you can feast your eyes on splendid city vistas while sipping a drink and chatting with friends. While Sky Bar at Lebua is one of the more well-known such bars in Bangkok, other popular sky bars include Moon Bar at the Banyan Tree hotel, Red Sky at the Centara Grand hotel, Park Society at the Sofitel SO hotel, and Cloud 9.

12. Themed Bars

For a drink and fun in truly unique and jaw-dropping surroundings, Bangkok’s has many fabulous themed bars. Scattered across the city, it’s well worth travelling to diverse areas to experience these splendid watering holes. Bars designed by Ashley Sutton are especially enthralling, with places like The Iron Fairies, Maggie Choo’s, Sing Sing Theater, and Iron Balls Distillery taking you into a magical and whimsical fairytale-like land. Havana Social, Rabbit Hole, The Locker Room, and Q&A Bar are mysterious speakeasies with an air of the American Prohibition era, and you can really cool down at the winter wonderland that is Titanium Club and Ice Bar. Being in Track 17 is like being on the Orient Express in its glory days of the past. Third Pig is a storybook dream, the glamorous Vogue Lounge takes you back to the 1920s, and Vesper Cocktail Bar has a cool arty vibe.

13. Dinner Cruise

Escape the hustle and bustle of the city and set sail along the Chao Phraya River for a classy dinner cruise. Most cruises include music and/or live entertainment. Savour tasty cuisine as you watch the sights of Bangkok by night unfold.

Sarah W is a travelling cat-lover who enjoys exploring places that are a little bit quirky or away from headline attractions. Favourite things include delicious falafel, snuggling under a thick duvet, (badly) belting out karaoke at the top of her lungs, and, of course, her family, friends, and furry pets.